Chapter 1:
Sandara Anluan is also known as Dara was just assigned officially at the Mariam Police District as their new recruited fresh graduate from Harlinson Police University, the country's prestigious school wherein many police officers, detectives, and famous chiefs were alumni here.
Every year, students have the right to pick one of the offers inside and outside the country depending on their performance throughout their four years in college. Since some famous and very elegant police departments across the country only offer 1 student a year, some 3 to 5 years, so, students are dying to be on top.
They have the greatest chance to enter the fields and become famous, solve crimes and leave their names on history. Before entering college, students will take 3 exams with very difficult questions. There is no cheating allowed, only one person was doing the exams every year with different questions in it. In an estimated 20,000 minors will apply, but only a thousand will pass. That person was never been revealed, many were surprised how he or she made the tests so difficult every year for the past 22 years. No one perfected the exam even those who were the child of the rich, not until that day came.
Sandara Anluan perfected the 3 exams, it was marvelous. She answered everything in detail, in her own words. She rose to fame across the whole country even outside after the results came out, but her name was anonymous to avoid any disturbance to her journey as police. That is the time where people were dying to know who she was, but the Chiefs and famous Departments waited four years for that girl they wanted to hire.
Dara has no friends, she is a very gloomy person, she likes being quiet and reading books alone with earphones on both of her earphones. She became the wanted person, but no one could not find out who the hell was the one who perfected the entrance exams.
Not just the entrance exams that she perfected, her exams from the first year to the fourth year were 1.00 in GPA. The highest score ever which was incredibly amazing. How can a student perfect exams for 4 years?
Rumors started to circulate the whole country and even outside it, saying that this student will become famous for her cases after her graduation.
Someone tipped them that it was a girl, but it was the only clue that was given the school released. Only the student will know her GPA, but all of them have the usernames for the post at school for the top 10, to be anonymous to say at least. Everyone shared theirs, but Sandara kept quiet hers. Her silly username was Unknown_Lass, which kind of became famous for her results every semester. No one could ever beat her 1.00, and all of them just fought for the other 9 out of 10.
No one even noticed her, all she did was study, do her best, and stay quiet with her high grades. After 4 years, police departments opened one application for the possibility that the Top One of the University will apply to them. Of course, Unknown_Lass was the top one, but her real name was still unknown.
But, no, none of them were in vain, Sandara did not choose any of the police departments with high salaries, famous cases, and valuable office, she picked the Mariam Police District, the infamous department with lots of unsolved cases for the past years.
Yeah, almost one-fourth of their cases were unsolved unlike any other police department, which made them infamous and ranked low worldwide.
How would they know that the Top One of Harlinson Police University did not pick them? It was because after the student applied to them, it was like first come first serve, he or she will immediately be part of the Department and after that, the student will show his or her username with the rank. They thought the lass will pick them, some even put their bets whose Police Department she will pick, I guess no one won.
Sandara looked at herself in the mirror, her hair was messy because she just woke up, she was kind of exhausted but more excited today. Today was her day to go to Mariam Police Department, wherein she will start her day as a Police Trainee. She brushed her colored light violet hair, she just colored it herself yesterday. Dara wanted to color her hair fully, but she thinks it was more fabulous to her if she had only the light violet starting in the middle of her hair to the end of it. She likes her black hair, so maybe the color she picked will be the best on the bottom.
Her hair is kind of wavy, her eyes are light blue and her eyelashes are so thick and long. She was pretty but gloomy.
Dara likes black, just any color but darker. Her new apartment is just small but perfect for her though. She only lives alone.
After brushing her hair she went to the bathroom and took her time to be ready. She does not put any makeup on her face so in just 15 minutes she was ready to go.
Of course, she can't go out without eating anything, but just one egg sandwich that she made for 2 minutes was enough for her appetite.
Wearing her black long sleeve shirt hood, black pants, and black boots up to her knees. Yeah, it was perfect for her. It was stylish but gloomy, she thought. She looked at herself once again in the mirror with her mouth still chewing the egg sandwich. Grabbing her small bag with her phone in her left hand, she stared into her eyes.
"Not bad, Dara," She whispered and smirked.
Sandara locked her metal door and went downstairs with her boot's heels making a sound as she walk. She just walk for just less than 10 minutes and there she was, standing in front of the small department, the Mariam Police Department.
She walked into the small, old department and everyone was amused to see her. Her face showed emotionless, she does not feel nervous or she was not sweating at all.
A guy with his full uniform went to her with a nameplate in his right chest, Officer Axel Hartshome the Chief of Police. Let me tell you, he had this big muscled body
which means he works out every day
and a freaking handsome face. He seemed to be in his mid-30s, but damn, those big muscles just keep on distracting someone who will be talking to him. If I met someone like this, I would probably ask him to headlock me.
"I guess you are our trainee, Miss Sandara Anluan. We did not expect someone from the Harlinson Police University to be part of our team. Well, welcome to Criminal Investigation Unit, Miss Anluan," He politely said then smiled.
Sandara looked at him, he was kind of taller than her since is only 5'3, and Chief Axel seems to be a 6 footer.
"I am pleased to be part of your team, shall I make an introduction?" The chief nodded then assisted her to the middle of the office and introduce herself to everyone.
But, as she was about to speak with the eyes of everyone in her, some random police officer eating a doughnut started laughing.
"Err, do you think this is a funeral, lady? I might be older than you by 2 years, but don't you think wearing something so odd in front of your colleagues is a good first impression?" He laughed while eating his donut, his right hand was holding a cup of hot coffee.
Sandara does not want to ruin their first impression of them, but this is what she likes, why would he even try to interfere with her style of fashion? She looked at him from head to toe then looked at his nameplate. Officer Luis Pulver. What a jerk, she thought.
Dara smiled a little bit, "So, how does my outfit disturb you from eating, Officer Pulver? You look like a potato from a salad with mayonnaise in your beard, but eating a donut though," She said.
Everyone laughed and looked at him. He was eating a donut with a freaking mayonnaise on top of it. Weird food combination he has, does it even taste good? Gross.
"Now, now, Officer Pulver, let's be more professional in front of our new Officer, okay? Now, please introduce yourself to us, Miss Sandara," Chief of Police Axel Hartshorne said then everyone stopped laughing.
Sandara opened her laptop from her bag and took a deep breath, "My name is Sandara Anluan, a fresh graduate of Harlinson Police University. I applied here to become a detective in this small district and solve cases with this team," She paused then opened her account in Harlinson Police University.
Officer Luis Pulver clapped so loud that everyone noticed him, "Oh, I bet she was one of the lowest in the rank of the University like me. Every police department was so full that she have no choice but to apply here." He laughed like a maniac.
"Is that what your professionalism, Officer Pulver? Yeah, you look like you are 2 years older than me but you look like someone just eating inside this office and just studying to be called the police, am I right?" It broke the silence and he took in his coffee. He became silent though.
Sandara smiled, "For my rank and username, this is it." She rotated her laptop for them to see and everyone was shocked, including Chief of Police Axel.
Officer Luis Pulver was drinking his coffee but when he saw her username and rank, he spitted everything out of his mouth. Everyone was speechless, they did not expect Sandara Anluan to be the Top One of Harlinson Police Academy and the Unknown_Lass.
"So, please do not judge a book by its cover, Officer Pulver," Sandara said then put her hands at her back.
"We were really surprised and did not expect the first-ever student of Harlinson will apply here to be our trainee. But, if may I ask, why did you pick Mariam Police Department instead of those other Police Departments that will most likely have the chance to have a higher salary and be more famous? You know we ranked the lowest in terms of solving cases and money, right? You have the potential that will suit you from the others who ranked first, Miss Anluan. Please enlighten us," Chief Axel asked with his eyes on her.
Sandara smiled and she looked at everyone, "Well, it may be unlikely for any Top One to choose this department, but I know that you will need me as well as I do. I am the perfectionist of the exams, the person who earned the nickname 'Perfector' or some random nickname 'The-Unknown-Lass-who-likes-studying-too-much', but I also need your support. Yes, those other police departments are more experienced, smarter, and have lots of fans, but I do not want those. I want a Police Department that is not kind of famous, you see, I am an introverted person. I hate speeches with big crowds, but I like solving some mysteries that will make my skin crawl. I hope we will be able to know each other that now, Sandara Anluan, will be part of your team, Chief Axel," She said, trying to maintain her voice so that everyone will hear, "I want to be a detective that will solve crimes, crimes that violate the law," She added.
"Your answer is enough, Miss Anluan. Once again, let us all welcome our new member of the team, Officer Sandara Anluan!" With his mighty voice, everyone clapped at her.
Sandara practiced this like a hundred times although it was not obvious. She is a very shy person that likes to be lonely, but since she is now part of this team, she must learn how to socialize a little bit. Of course, she does not want to be an extrovert person though, just learns how to properly communicate with people without hurting them.
"Hey," Officer Luis Pulver walked towards her, "Sorry about what I said, Officer Luis Pulver," He smiled at her and wanted a handshake.
Sandara looked at his hand full of grease from the doughnut, it was kind of irritating her. Luis suddenly realized to change his hand because his left hand has grease and some mayonnaise left in it.
They shook their hands and both of them smiled, "Oh, yeah, sorry, I hope we will have a good relationship with the others. Let me help you get to know their names." He said and led the way.
Sandara followed him to the group of officers in their uniforms, all of them were excited to meet the intern. All of them welcomed Miss Sandara like a family.
"Hi, Officer Lizzie Fanatia at your service!" A woman went towards her and even pinched her cheeks.
"Er, Liz, I think that is not the proper way of introducing. You just told us to be professional in introducing ourselves---"
"Nah, she is just so cute yet gloomy, look how pretty she is in that outfit!" Lizzie Fanatia looked at her with amazement in her eyes. She was acting so surprised with her appearance which made Sandara uncomfortable.
Officer Luis held Officer Lizzie's wrist and signaled her for her actions. they all knew that Sandara is a very demure and introverted person, so maybe some adjustments with her presence are a must.
"Oops, sorry, but hey, lemme introduce you to the others," Lizzie susurrated because of the awkwardness she did, "This is our detectives, Detective Lawson Kjolsen, 32, and Detective Elle Hosman-Kjolsen, 30. Yeah, they are married after years of hating each other y'all!" She continued, then the couple laughed.
Detective Lawson Kjolsen put his hand on Detective Elle's shoulder and smiled, "Yeah, we also thought we are leaving for a while without someone replacing us in the meantime. Maybe in just a year and a half, you will become a detective, Officer Anluan," His tone was manly and deep, but it sounded so exciting.
"Yeah, she will, then both of you will leave our department for 10 years. Like, how the hell you guys are going to live without money or work? Just bring your kids here, let me take care of them instead," Officer Lizzie interrupted, she was almost teary-eyed.
Detective Elle patted her shoulder and her angelic smile appeared, "Hey, we can always go here if ever we have some time. We already decided about it and that's it. I know it is very saddening news that we won't be working for 10 years for our safety and to support our forthcoming children in their childhood."
"So, yeah, that is our detectives who both became a detective in just 2 years of being a police officer. Although that position was only open for one, since both of them were so competitive, our chief allowed them to be promoted. I can even remember Detective Elle hating him so much to the point she started to pin his stolen pictures in her wall at her--"
"Oh, I think we should help our dear new police Officer to meet the others, am I right, Officer?" Detective Elle changed the topic and smiled.
She grabbed Sandara's hand and guided her to the other officers who would love to know her. Sandara suddenly smiled, she knew she was never wrong about picking the right department, for the very first time, people see her, minding her.
I guess I am on the right track, aren't I?
